Dan Cope says he is ready to start putting himself in the English welterweight title picture – but first he must deal with Billy Snaith.

Cope’s Northern Area title will be on the line against Ferryhill’s Snaith, but it will be the last thing on either fighter’s mind given all the needle between them in the build-up.

Both sides have taken every opportunity to snipe at one another, and the pair clashed again at Friday’s weigh-in.

But both are aiming to climb the boxing ladder, and see Saturday’s fight at Hardwick Hall as another step.

“I’ll look to be somewhere around pushing for the English title this year,” says 26-year-old Cope, part of the Hartlepool boxing family. “I’ll maybe do this and a six-rounder, then look for that. I’ll do whatever (trainer) Neil Fannan says.

“It’s nice to be a champion and fight around here but you want to see how good you are.

“I’ve had some really good spars with the likes of Josh Leather and there’s no reason why I can’t win English titles and push for the British belt.”

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Snaith called Cope out for the fight and labelled him a “nugget” when work prevented him appearing at the pre-fight Press conference. The 29-year-old labelled him “disrespectful”, and Cope’s comments about the fight certainly lived up to that billing.

“After the fight I won’t be shaking his hands,” he said. “We’ll touch gloves in the ring but that’s it. He’s just shown everyone what he’s like. He’s embarrassed himself. Everybody’s just laughing at him.”

Cope was ringside for Snaith’s points victory over Michal Vosyka at the Walker Dome in March – but not for long.

“I was at his last fight but to be honest, I left after a couple of rounds,” he said.

“He didn’t really impress me. He was the same as he always is, just walking forward into shots. He doesn’t really scare me.

“He’s talked a good fight but I know he can’t back it up. He can talk and talk as much as he likes but talk’s cheap.

“I’ve got to take care of business on Saturday and the just try and push on.”

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Sedgefield super-lightweight Jeff Saunders fights Chris Truman for the British Challenge Belt, while Anth Hardy returns to the ring after 14 months out with eye surgery. He faces Andrej Cepur.

Other local talent on the card includes Ferryhill light-heavyweight Kyle Redfern, Darlington super-lightweight Neil Hepper, Jordan King from Hetton-le-Hole, and a heavyweight derby between Carl Wilson and Jone Volau.